What do you think?
The Shattered Song #1
The Tethered God
The gods of Ashkareth built their world on blood and silence.
Someone else's blood.
Someone else's silence.
Brann spent fourteen years drinking away the things he'd done-what the gods demanded, what the temple required, what his bond was built on. He was done with all of it. Then a name he buried came back to find him. And something older than the gods began to speak.
Now he must learn the horror of what it means when the thing the gods fear most call him by name.
Someone else's blood.
Someone else's silence.
Brann spent fourteen years drinking away the things he'd done-what the gods demanded, what the temple required, what his bond was built on. He was done with all of it. Then a name he buried came back to find him. And something older than the gods began to speak.
Now he must learn the horror of what it means when the thing the gods fear most call him by name.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
This review is spoiler-free.
Tethered God is the first book in The Shattered Song series by Noah Brisk. I was fortunate enough to receive an eARC prior to its release on September 22. My thanks to Noah and Stacey.
Let me preface this review by stating: The act of creation is full of wonder and whimsy, but also misgivings and perils. I have immense respect for any person who puts a piece of themselves out there. Different readers latch onto and empathize with different things, and no book is universally loved or disliked. It all comes down to personal preferences in the end.
Tethered God registers as an interesting amalgam of crowd-favorite computer games and mainstream fantasy works. To me, it feels like a solid first stab at creative writing and will certainly score high with the right crowd. I can also see that the book would likely benefit from one more editorial pass. Sometimes words and phrases echo, the sentence-level writing is a bit uneven, and occasional anachronisms jump-scare off the page. Nothing that would make you put the book down, but things you’ll catch.
What I really liked, however, was how seamlessly accessible everything felt. A person who rarely reads could pick this up and have a blast. In that sense, this book may be a surprisingly poignant entry point for anyone trying to get into fantasy or reading in general. It isn’t overly demanding and holds your hand just enough that you don’t flounder (or flinch!). Yes, it leans into familiar tropes and character stereotypes, but fantasy veterans will still appreciate the relentless pacing, intriguing religious backdrop, and genuinely cool magic system.
If you have the right expectations, you’ll enjoy this book—devour it, even. To me, it was a bit heavy handed, but not so much that I couldn’t recommend it to other gloom-seeking enthusiasts. If you like grimdark, dark fantasy, or edgier fantasy blends, this was written for you. Even though the final polish is a bit rougher, you’ll likely love the book for what it is: entertaining, fast-paced, and ultimately a fun thrill-ride.
🌕🌕🌕🌘🌑
Serrated Blade with a Coarse Edge — 3.25 / 5.00
Tethered God is the first book in The Shattered Song series by Noah Brisk. I was fortunate enough to receive an eARC prior to its release on September 22. My thanks to Noah and Stacey.
Let me preface this review by stating: The act of creation is full of wonder and whimsy, but also misgivings and perils. I have immense respect for any person who puts a piece of themselves out there. Different readers latch onto and empathize with different things, and no book is universally loved or disliked. It all comes down to personal preferences in the end.
Tethered God registers as an interesting amalgam of crowd-favorite computer games and mainstream fantasy works. To me, it feels like a solid first stab at creative writing and will certainly score high with the right crowd. I can also see that the book would likely benefit from one more editorial pass. Sometimes words and phrases echo, the sentence-level writing is a bit uneven, and occasional anachronisms jump-scare off the page. Nothing that would make you put the book down, but things you’ll catch.
What I really liked, however, was how seamlessly accessible everything felt. A person who rarely reads could pick this up and have a blast. In that sense, this book may be a surprisingly poignant entry point for anyone trying to get into fantasy or reading in general. It isn’t overly demanding and holds your hand just enough that you don’t flounder (or flinch!). Yes, it leans into familiar tropes and character stereotypes, but fantasy veterans will still appreciate the relentless pacing, intriguing religious backdrop, and genuinely cool magic system.
If you have the right expectations, you’ll enjoy this book—devour it, even. To me, it was a bit heavy handed, but not so much that I couldn’t recommend it to other gloom-seeking enthusiasts. If you like grimdark, dark fantasy, or edgier fantasy blends, this was written for you. Even though the final polish is a bit rougher, you’ll likely love the book for what it is: entertaining, fast-paced, and ultimately a fun thrill-ride.
🌕🌕🌕🌘🌑
Serrated Blade with a Coarse Edge — 3.25 / 5.00
June 22, 2026
this book is comprised of so many things i love about fantasy, so im not surprised i loved it. character driven fantasies are my favorite, and the tethered god went so deep into the protagonist, brann’s, head that i almost felt like i was him. he is not a perfect, conventional hero by any means, and starts off the story extremely aimless. but he’s loveable despite how rough he is, and seeing his arc was incredibly moving. seren was another character i grew to love.
she’s 19, and brisk does a great job at making sure she’s not either infantilised or overly mature. i loved seeing her come into herself, but i also appreciated that she started off with so much strength and poise. her composure and her intellect reminded me quite a bit of moiraine from the wheel of time, but she still felt fresh. her interactions with brann were such a treat not only because of how well they foiled each other, but because of how smart she was in engaging with him.
the way religion intersected with politics was fascinating, as was the depth of the magic system. it was extremely structured with rules and consequences, and never felt like a crutch. there is nothing nebulous or confusing about it. it was so cool how all of the characters, while bound by the same rules, have such a unique relationship with the magic.
the action scenes were extremely visceral and graphic; i felt like i was in the thick of it with the level of sensory detail that was applied. the way brisk merges traditional combat with magic really enhances not only the worldbuilding but the character work, as each person’s fighting style is very much tailored to who they are as a person and what skills they’re most comfortable with. even though there’s a massive fight scene like, three chapters in, it didn’t feel like it was gratuitous or unearned because of how expository it was.
finally, i loved how expansive the world felt. this is a whole universe with a history that clearly spans thousands of years in either direction from the main timeline. it doesn’t feel like it just spawned into existence to serve the plot. the epigraphs were so intriguing, especially with the level of academia to them— they are not only attributed to author, but to document, and have notes from translators and archivists that had me wondering who i was supposed to believe. history contains multitudes, and there is no fully correct interpretation, just what people are believing.
overall, i’d highly recommend this to anyone who likes extremely layered character work, hard magic systems, and lore that is vast and complex without feeling like an info dump. it’s such a love letter to the fantasy greats, like the wheel of time, the realm of the elderlings, and the faithful and the fallen, while still carving its own path in a way that is sure to resonate.
she’s 19, and brisk does a great job at making sure she’s not either infantilised or overly mature. i loved seeing her come into herself, but i also appreciated that she started off with so much strength and poise. her composure and her intellect reminded me quite a bit of moiraine from the wheel of time, but she still felt fresh. her interactions with brann were such a treat not only because of how well they foiled each other, but because of how smart she was in engaging with him.
the way religion intersected with politics was fascinating, as was the depth of the magic system. it was extremely structured with rules and consequences, and never felt like a crutch. there is nothing nebulous or confusing about it. it was so cool how all of the characters, while bound by the same rules, have such a unique relationship with the magic.
the action scenes were extremely visceral and graphic; i felt like i was in the thick of it with the level of sensory detail that was applied. the way brisk merges traditional combat with magic really enhances not only the worldbuilding but the character work, as each person’s fighting style is very much tailored to who they are as a person and what skills they’re most comfortable with. even though there’s a massive fight scene like, three chapters in, it didn’t feel like it was gratuitous or unearned because of how expository it was.
finally, i loved how expansive the world felt. this is a whole universe with a history that clearly spans thousands of years in either direction from the main timeline. it doesn’t feel like it just spawned into existence to serve the plot. the epigraphs were so intriguing, especially with the level of academia to them— they are not only attributed to author, but to document, and have notes from translators and archivists that had me wondering who i was supposed to believe. history contains multitudes, and there is no fully correct interpretation, just what people are believing.
overall, i’d highly recommend this to anyone who likes extremely layered character work, hard magic systems, and lore that is vast and complex without feeling like an info dump. it’s such a love letter to the fantasy greats, like the wheel of time, the realm of the elderlings, and the faithful and the fallen, while still carving its own path in a way that is sure to resonate.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am nervous to leave an honest review as I really like the author, but here goes. This book was a 2.5/5 for me.
I received Tethered God as an ARC, and was so excited to read it. If you follow Noah Brisk on social media, you will see his passion for reading and writing. That passion is evident in The Tethered God.
Brisk has created an interesting world and story, and this is what kept me reading.
I really wanted to love this book, unfortunately the writing was where things fell down for me. In early chapters, Brisk seems to struggle to fall into character and we see this battle between the narration by our rough old drunken MC, and the authors own voice shining through. Between chapter 3 and 12, this improves but unfortunately slips again for the rest of the book. It feels like Brisk's passion and excitement for writing about graphic scenery overtakes the narration with Brann.
As the book progresses, the repetition of words becomes jarring and causes narratives to drag. For example, the word 'lattice' is used 37 times in the 2nd half of the book, 'shattered' 58 times, and 'mote' 64 times.
Another pet hate of mine is when characters inner thoughts or dialogue ask questions that are better left to the reader. What I would have loved to see, instead of a character making comments like, "did you see it too?" would be the use of body language - a look exchanged - that tells the reader what we already know. The book has so much exposition, that these additional moments of being told instead of shown really stand out.
It's so incredibly clear that Brisk has poured himself into this work, and I hope that his future writing gives us more of these fictional characters and less of the authors voice.
I received Tethered God as an ARC, and was so excited to read it. If you follow Noah Brisk on social media, you will see his passion for reading and writing. That passion is evident in The Tethered God.
Brisk has created an interesting world and story, and this is what kept me reading.
I really wanted to love this book, unfortunately the writing was where things fell down for me. In early chapters, Brisk seems to struggle to fall into character and we see this battle between the narration by our rough old drunken MC, and the authors own voice shining through. Between chapter 3 and 12, this improves but unfortunately slips again for the rest of the book. It feels like Brisk's passion and excitement for writing about graphic scenery overtakes the narration with Brann.
As the book progresses, the repetition of words becomes jarring and causes narratives to drag. For example, the word 'lattice' is used 37 times in the 2nd half of the book, 'shattered' 58 times, and 'mote' 64 times.
Another pet hate of mine is when characters inner thoughts or dialogue ask questions that are better left to the reader. What I would have loved to see, instead of a character making comments like, "did you see it too?" would be the use of body language - a look exchanged - that tells the reader what we already know. The book has so much exposition, that these additional moments of being told instead of shown really stand out.
It's so incredibly clear that Brisk has poured himself into this work, and I hope that his future writing gives us more of these fictional characters and less of the authors voice.
June 29, 2026
Unabashedly brutal, unflinchingly grim, unapologetically hopeful. Fans of Richard Swan and Robert Jordan alike will find a home here.
April 6, 2026
I wouldn’t hold it against you if you called this a dark version of The Wheel of Time, told with more precision and concision. But I think it’s better to describe this as if Robert Jordan and Richard Swan had a book baby raised by Robin Hobb.
That is to say this book’s DNA is very much a blending of love for The Wheel of Time and The Tyranny of Faith, with elements that could have only come from a love for Hobb as well. If you have read characters like Regal Farseer or Kyle Haven and felt absolute immense insta hate for a character, you will see what I am talking about.
Also every once in awhile Brisk will hit you with a line that sounds like this:
“The sky seemed to be a boiling cauldron of gold, red, and violet. There were no birds to be seen and no wolves to be heard. Sangreal had a persistent hush like the world was waiting for instructions.“
See what I am getting at here?
Much like Richard Swan, Noah takes concepts that are SO FANTASY and weaves them with horror elements sometimes in similar ways- especially as it pertains to the ritualistic manner of certain magics here and other times in ways just in the visceral ways things get described.
As to the Wheel of Time, there are many many similarities here. Many I will not get into for spoiler reasons, its better to experience this. The FMC, Seren is reminiscent of Moraine, our MMC Brann is a former Warden, a group of people bonded to a priestess - similar to the Aes Sedai and their Warders. There are more parallels here but I will let you find them as the story unfolds.
Before you think that this is anything more- this is homage and tribute to Wheel of Time.
Pacing wise, this book moves fast and always keeps something interesting happening. The book isnt long - in talking about this with others who have read it I have called this a short book for people who love long books. The epigraphs provide a lot of really interesting lore, you get a lot of character moments and action despite this book coming in at under 400 Kindle pages.
Again, I dont want to say too much here, but Noah Brisk knows what strings to pull and can make you laugh, smile, frown and scream angrily and certainly makes you do all of those things.
That is to say this book’s DNA is very much a blending of love for The Wheel of Time and The Tyranny of Faith, with elements that could have only come from a love for Hobb as well. If you have read characters like Regal Farseer or Kyle Haven and felt absolute immense insta hate for a character, you will see what I am talking about.
Also every once in awhile Brisk will hit you with a line that sounds like this:
“The sky seemed to be a boiling cauldron of gold, red, and violet. There were no birds to be seen and no wolves to be heard. Sangreal had a persistent hush like the world was waiting for instructions.“
See what I am getting at here?
Much like Richard Swan, Noah takes concepts that are SO FANTASY and weaves them with horror elements sometimes in similar ways- especially as it pertains to the ritualistic manner of certain magics here and other times in ways just in the visceral ways things get described.
As to the Wheel of Time, there are many many similarities here. Many I will not get into for spoiler reasons, its better to experience this. The FMC, Seren is reminiscent of Moraine, our MMC Brann is a former Warden, a group of people bonded to a priestess - similar to the Aes Sedai and their Warders. There are more parallels here but I will let you find them as the story unfolds.
Before you think that this is anything more- this is homage and tribute to Wheel of Time.
Pacing wise, this book moves fast and always keeps something interesting happening. The book isnt long - in talking about this with others who have read it I have called this a short book for people who love long books. The epigraphs provide a lot of really interesting lore, you get a lot of character moments and action despite this book coming in at under 400 Kindle pages.
Again, I dont want to say too much here, but Noah Brisk knows what strings to pull and can make you laugh, smile, frown and scream angrily and certainly makes you do all of those things.
Review of advance copy received from Author
2.75★ rounded up to 3★
This is a tough one to gather my thoughts. There was moments in this book that really shone for me but by the end i had lost my feeling of being invested.
The first few chapters used language that sounded like the Author, not the drunk we were reading about. This was a bit jarring as the voice didn't feel like it matched the character. After a few chapters this really settled and i got quite invested. The imagery at the start was really good also and one of my main notes for this read. The epigraphs were well done and helped foreshadow the narrative nicely.
Unfortunately not long after half way, it fell away for me again and didn't reach a point of me buying back in.
This was due to what i felt was repetitive language, words and visuals that felt like it slowed the pace down despite the fact there was always something happening. The story and magic felt a bit convoluted by the end.
I will say, the epilogues sparked a little something, and will draw readers who enjoyed this back into the sequels with ease. I get the feeling an upcoming character will be quite interesting.
Thankyou Noah for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Tethered God. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.
This is a tough one to gather my thoughts. There was moments in this book that really shone for me but by the end i had lost my feeling of being invested.
The first few chapters used language that sounded like the Author, not the drunk we were reading about. This was a bit jarring as the voice didn't feel like it matched the character. After a few chapters this really settled and i got quite invested. The imagery at the start was really good also and one of my main notes for this read. The epigraphs were well done and helped foreshadow the narrative nicely.
Unfortunately not long after half way, it fell away for me again and didn't reach a point of me buying back in.
This was due to what i felt was repetitive language, words and visuals that felt like it slowed the pace down despite the fact there was always something happening. The story and magic felt a bit convoluted by the end.
I will say, the epilogues sparked a little something, and will draw readers who enjoyed this back into the sequels with ease. I get the feeling an upcoming character will be quite interesting.
Thankyou Noah for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Tethered God. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beautifully referential, fast-paced, and crass. This book is a love letter to the fantasy genre, combining the epic mystical scale of Wheel of Time with the reluctant heroism of Empire of the Vampire. Noah did something truly special with this debut.
March 14, 2026
I beta read this book and even in its early state I’d give it a strong 4.75.
I definitely prefer shorter books over the giant, epic doorstoppers so this one was right up my alley. Despite the low word count Noah does an incredible job of taking some of the immense, world-spanning stakes of true epic fantasy and compressing them down into a tight narrative that maintains a thriller level pace.
This book pulls no punches and does not shy away from showing you every squeamish detail. It is grimdark in the truest sense of the word. Bad things happen to good people, horrific things happen to innocent people. However; it does manage to avoid the trap that some grimdarks slip into of complete apathy. Noah sprinkles in just enough light and love and beauty to make you want to see Brann and Seren succeed against the overwhelming odds arrayed against them.
If you want to see an old (actually old) washed up soldier come out of retirement to punch bloodthirsty cultists in the face and work his way up to challenging the very gods themselves this is the book for you.
This book is a fit for people who enjoy the following games:
- God of War
- Bloodborne
- Elden Ring
- Dark Souls
Warning: if unsettlingly accurate and moist descriptions of eldritch body horror give you pause, keep a bucket nearby.
I definitely prefer shorter books over the giant, epic doorstoppers so this one was right up my alley. Despite the low word count Noah does an incredible job of taking some of the immense, world-spanning stakes of true epic fantasy and compressing them down into a tight narrative that maintains a thriller level pace.
This book pulls no punches and does not shy away from showing you every squeamish detail. It is grimdark in the truest sense of the word. Bad things happen to good people, horrific things happen to innocent people. However; it does manage to avoid the trap that some grimdarks slip into of complete apathy. Noah sprinkles in just enough light and love and beauty to make you want to see Brann and Seren succeed against the overwhelming odds arrayed against them.
If you want to see an old (actually old) washed up soldier come out of retirement to punch bloodthirsty cultists in the face and work his way up to challenging the very gods themselves this is the book for you.
This book is a fit for people who enjoy the following games:
- God of War
- Bloodborne
- Elden Ring
- Dark Souls
Warning: if unsettlingly accurate and moist descriptions of eldritch body horror give you pause, keep a bucket nearby.
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
Look, I can’t just sit here and pretend I didn’t like this book. I can say for a first try at publishing something, it’s pretty okay.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Noah Brisk showcases his deep love for fantasy and strong character work in this dark fantasy debut. This story is full of grit, gore, and a protagonist you’ll question if you like a few times in the most complimentary way possible. Brann comes across exactly as he should, worn down by his years in existence and not afraid to be crass, push buttons, and say things that will have you laugh if you can appreciate a cynical bit of humor.
Overall if you’re a fan of dark fantasy and epic fantasy, you’re going to have a good time. If you’re a fan of amazing narration, this audiobook truly is an experience that has you feeling like you’re in the world and terrifyingly in Brann’s head.
Overall if you’re a fan of dark fantasy and epic fantasy, you’re going to have a good time. If you’re a fan of amazing narration, this audiobook truly is an experience that has you feeling like you’re in the world and terrifyingly in Brann’s head.
July 3, 2026
Review of an advanced copy received from the author.
Well. That God be Tethered. I am not a hard sell on Dark Fantasy with a grim dark lean. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had some interesting characters and a magic system that was enlightening 😉. Slight wheel of time influence with like words and concepts but nothing related to story, plot or characters. For a debut novel, this was quite good and I enjoyed the whole ride. First 100 pages gives a limited view into the world and it expands a bit as we go along. Really look forward to getting my hands on a physical copy and for where the story goes in the next book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well. That God be Tethered. I am not a hard sell on Dark Fantasy with a grim dark lean. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had some interesting characters and a magic system that was enlightening 😉. Slight wheel of time influence with like words and concepts but nothing related to story, plot or characters. For a debut novel, this was quite good and I enjoyed the whole ride. First 100 pages gives a limited view into the world and it expands a bit as we go along. Really look forward to getting my hands on a physical copy and for where the story goes in the next book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 15, 2026
Brann just wants to forget. Forget his mistakes, forget oaths broken, forget her. Unfortunately for him, fate has something else in mind. The gods are dying, the Light corrupting, and he just might hold the key to saving it all.
I was fortunate enough to beta read this for Noah and it truly is an accomplishment. This is story is raw, dark, and a non-stop ride to hell and back. The first half builds our characters, the magic system, some backstory. But that second half? It’s wild. You’re going to get a relentless pace - you’re going to to get some heartstrings pulled - you’re going to get a whole lot of bloodshed and violence - and you’re going to end up asking, what’s next?
I was fortunate enough to beta read this for Noah and it truly is an accomplishment. This is story is raw, dark, and a non-stop ride to hell and back. The first half builds our characters, the magic system, some backstory. But that second half? It’s wild. You’re going to get a relentless pace - you’re going to to get some heartstrings pulled - you’re going to get a whole lot of bloodshed and violence - and you’re going to end up asking, what’s next?
July 9, 2026
Brann is the reluctant hero, facing the consequences of a decision that is haunting him from his past. When a representative of the church comes looking for him because they need his help, they find this washed up warden and fractured man. What Brann becomes along the way is someone his past self would have been proud of. His redemption arc is one for the ages and he is put between the church, a cult, angry gods, and betrayed friends. I joke about needing a cigarette break, but from the jump I felt like I was IN this world of Ashkareth and Brann is running and fighting for his life. The magic system is so cool, the concept of pulling from these cores within your soul that stem from the gods of different worldly elements… the fact that Brann is unique in his mastery of these cores, it’s all metal as hell! The bonds run deep in this book and the Gods are angry… what’s Brann gonna do? Yall need to check out his book!
June 26, 2026
I did enjoy this book a lot, the magic system was interesting, the characters were “cool”. The world building just left me confused a lot of the time and just felt like I was missing something. Maybe I read it to fast I do that sometimes, but I will say for a first book really good try. I can definitely seeing the series grow depending the choices made in the future. Looking forward to seeing Noah grow as an author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
2.5 stars
This review is hard to write, but here are my honest thoughts. At one point, I thought this had the makings of a 3.5-4 star book for me, but it ended up not working for me.
The Tethered God had a very promising premise, world, and magic system. It took me 3-4 chapters to get settled into the world and get used to the author's writing. I enjoyed the introduction of the character Seren as a strong, kind, and intelligent female character. The epigraphs from the start to end were intriguing, and I enjoyed the air of mystery around the gods. This book had me theorising and questioning what was true.
My main issue in the first half was the pacing, as I was hoping for some more space to really become invested in the characters, especially our main character, Brann. It felt like there was a lot of foreshadowing and gruesome imagery in a fast-paced story, but I wasn't quite sure where the novel was going. There was an epic scene and turning point ~50% that brought me back to the story, hooking me to keep reading.
Unfortunately, from around 55-60%, I started to very quickly lose interest, almost DNFing. The magic and world became somewhat confusing for me, and any repetitive language and imagery felt more pronounced in the second half. By the time we finally got some answers, I found I didn't care enough about the effect of these events or revelations on the world and characters.
The last few chapters and epilogues will make many readers want to continue this series, as they set up book 2 well, but unfortunately, I think this one isn't for me. I'm glad others have really enjoyed it and am very grateful ultimately to the author for the ARC and opportunity.
This review is hard to write, but here are my honest thoughts. At one point, I thought this had the makings of a 3.5-4 star book for me, but it ended up not working for me.
The Tethered God had a very promising premise, world, and magic system. It took me 3-4 chapters to get settled into the world and get used to the author's writing. I enjoyed the introduction of the character Seren as a strong, kind, and intelligent female character. The epigraphs from the start to end were intriguing, and I enjoyed the air of mystery around the gods. This book had me theorising and questioning what was true.
My main issue in the first half was the pacing, as I was hoping for some more space to really become invested in the characters, especially our main character, Brann. It felt like there was a lot of foreshadowing and gruesome imagery in a fast-paced story, but I wasn't quite sure where the novel was going. There was an epic scene and turning point ~50% that brought me back to the story, hooking me to keep reading.
Unfortunately, from around 55-60%, I started to very quickly lose interest, almost DNFing. The magic and world became somewhat confusing for me, and any repetitive language and imagery felt more pronounced in the second half. By the time we finally got some answers, I found I didn't care enough about the effect of these events or revelations on the world and characters.
The last few chapters and epilogues will make many readers want to continue this series, as they set up book 2 well, but unfortunately, I think this one isn't for me. I'm glad others have really enjoyed it and am very grateful ultimately to the author for the ARC and opportunity.
July 7, 2026
Bloody(literally) brilliant debut, I was hooked the entire way through this story! Noah is a genius 👏🏻
This trilogy is going to be epic after this starting point!!
It’s such a brutal world when the layers are peeled back yet on the exterior it’s quite beautiful 😂
Pacing is insanely good- battles are intense, gory and rapid. The building of the world mechanics is seamless by the end it all falls together perfectly yet also needing more!
The first and only epic fantasy I’ve read that’s under 400 pages I think? You’d be daft not to check it out.
We’ve got gods, BLOOD MAGIC- it’s really something else too, the quest of a lifetime and I can tell this is literally only the beginning of this tale 👀
This trilogy is going to be epic after this starting point!!
It’s such a brutal world when the layers are peeled back yet on the exterior it’s quite beautiful 😂
Pacing is insanely good- battles are intense, gory and rapid. The building of the world mechanics is seamless by the end it all falls together perfectly yet also needing more!
The first and only epic fantasy I’ve read that’s under 400 pages I think? You’d be daft not to check it out.
We’ve got gods, BLOOD MAGIC- it’s really something else too, the quest of a lifetime and I can tell this is literally only the beginning of this tale 👀
September 8, 2026
What do you get if you take Geralt and Ciri, mix that with the brutality of Empire of the Vampire, and a touch of Phillip Quaintrell’s storytelling?
The Tethered God. It’s dark, it’s action-packed, and it’s also freaking heartwarming.
A great read!
The Tethered God. It’s dark, it’s action-packed, and it’s also freaking heartwarming.
A great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
My rating is 4.5 rounded for GR
What a wild ride!
While this in NO WAY feels like a debut, it is and it absolutely out performs many seasoned authors for me.
Brann is a solid character and he carries the story. Flawed, untrusting and very damaged, he must dig deep to make it through everything he's put through.
The hectic pace of this book is both its strength and its challenge. The action ramps up pretty much immediately and does not let off the gas at all. Now for a reader like me...I'm all in for that! But for a more character driven reader, some of that might be missing here just due to the dizzying speed of going from battle to battle. There is really no down time to build relationships, so that happens very quickly and maybe too easily considering just how shut down Brann was.
There wasn't much about this read that I didn't like and I'm already anticipating the next episode in The Tethered God series.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.
What a wild ride!
While this in NO WAY feels like a debut, it is and it absolutely out performs many seasoned authors for me.
Brann is a solid character and he carries the story. Flawed, untrusting and very damaged, he must dig deep to make it through everything he's put through.
The hectic pace of this book is both its strength and its challenge. The action ramps up pretty much immediately and does not let off the gas at all. Now for a reader like me...I'm all in for that! But for a more character driven reader, some of that might be missing here just due to the dizzying speed of going from battle to battle. There is really no down time to build relationships, so that happens very quickly and maybe too easily considering just how shut down Brann was.
There wasn't much about this read that I didn't like and I'm already anticipating the next episode in The Tethered God series.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.
June 27, 2026
Review of an advanced copy received from the author.
I wanted to sit with my feelings on this book for a few days after finishing it. I think that the premise of the story was very interesting and I liked the characters. But I think what held me back from really enjoying this more was that I didn’t connect with the writing.
I definitely think that The Tethered God will really appeal to readers who like darker fantasy.
I wanted to sit with my feelings on this book for a few days after finishing it. I think that the premise of the story was very interesting and I liked the characters. But I think what held me back from really enjoying this more was that I didn’t connect with the writing.
I definitely think that The Tethered God will really appeal to readers who like darker fantasy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A dark, fast-paced, brutal fantasy about a broken man who is chosen to save the world, whether he wants to or not.
I unfortunately struggled with this one, especially during the first half. The pacing felt inconsistent and the story became somewhat repetitive at times. There were stretches where things felt like they were moving slowly, followed by long sequences of Brann and Seren fighting through groups of unnamed characters. For much of the book, the story felt like it was moving from one battle to the next with the main goal being to reach the Wound.
My biggest struggle was with the characters, particularly Brann. He's introduced as a broken, jaded, and often drunk former warrior who has experienced a lot of failure, but I never really felt as connected to his pain as I wanted to. Much of his suffering is communicated through repeated references in his internal dialogue rather than through scenes that allowed me to experience it with him. Some of his actions and dialogue seemed at odds with that characterization, particularly when it came to his tenderness and protectiveness toward Seren.
I struggled with the development of Brann and Seren's relationship. Their bond develops very quickly, and I didn't feel like we had enough time to see their companionship grow before their relationship shifted into something deeper. I think more quiet moments between them would have made that progression feel much more meaningful to me. It'd be easier to become more invested in them if we got to see them getting to know and trust each other.
There was also quite a bit of telling when it came to the characters' traits rather than showing them through their actions and dialogue. When talking about Seren for example:
We're told this about Seren but I wanted more opportunities to see these qualities come through in her interactions. From what we see on the page, I came away with a picture of her as a young, determined priestess with strong Light magic, but I didn't feel like I got to know much more about her personality.
That said, things did become more interesting for me around the halfway point. I really enjoyed the dreamlike quality of the god's world and there is a lot of creativity throughout the story. The magic is incredibly vivid and I especially loved the epigraphs! They were beautifully written and added some much needed context about the gods and the world.
One other aspect that I thought was really well done was the Reclaimers and Eldric scenes. The cult-like atmosphere and blood-sacrifice elements were so creepy and uncomfortable and I loved it. Those scenes had such a dramatic sense of horror to them and they were some of the moments where I felt the story's darker, more unsettling atmosphere really shine.
I really wanted this book to work for me, but the execution didn't quite land. I wish we spent more time developing the world outside of the magic system. There are hints of interesting political dynamics between the kingdoms, but I wanted to see more of that explored rather than mainly hearing about Kiera's involvement in gathering support.
If you're looking for a brutal, mystical, fast-paced story, I think there are definitely things here to enjoy. For me, I needed deeper character development and more exploration of the world to fully connect with the story.
⭐️⭐️.5
I unfortunately struggled with this one, especially during the first half. The pacing felt inconsistent and the story became somewhat repetitive at times. There were stretches where things felt like they were moving slowly, followed by long sequences of Brann and Seren fighting through groups of unnamed characters. For much of the book, the story felt like it was moving from one battle to the next with the main goal being to reach the Wound.
My biggest struggle was with the characters, particularly Brann. He's introduced as a broken, jaded, and often drunk former warrior who has experienced a lot of failure, but I never really felt as connected to his pain as I wanted to. Much of his suffering is communicated through repeated references in his internal dialogue rather than through scenes that allowed me to experience it with him. Some of his actions and dialogue seemed at odds with that characterization, particularly when it came to his tenderness and protectiveness toward Seren.
I struggled with the development of Brann and Seren's relationship. Their bond develops very quickly, and I didn't feel like we had enough time to see their companionship grow before their relationship shifted into something deeper. I think more quiet moments between them would have made that progression feel much more meaningful to me. It'd be easier to become more invested in them if we got to see them getting to know and trust each other.
There was also quite a bit of telling when it came to the characters' traits rather than showing them through their actions and dialogue. When talking about Seren for example:
After so many years of working with Kiera at the temple and on council-sponsored missions, he was used to quick wit and thoughtful questions. This priestess gave him that, and it was a forgotten comfort.
We're told this about Seren but I wanted more opportunities to see these qualities come through in her interactions. From what we see on the page, I came away with a picture of her as a young, determined priestess with strong Light magic, but I didn't feel like I got to know much more about her personality.
That said, things did become more interesting for me around the halfway point. I really enjoyed the dreamlike quality of the god's world and there is a lot of creativity throughout the story. The magic is incredibly vivid and I especially loved the epigraphs! They were beautifully written and added some much needed context about the gods and the world.
One other aspect that I thought was really well done was the Reclaimers and Eldric scenes. The cult-like atmosphere and blood-sacrifice elements were so creepy and uncomfortable and I loved it. Those scenes had such a dramatic sense of horror to them and they were some of the moments where I felt the story's darker, more unsettling atmosphere really shine.
I really wanted this book to work for me, but the execution didn't quite land. I wish we spent more time developing the world outside of the magic system. There are hints of interesting political dynamics between the kingdoms, but I wanted to see more of that explored rather than mainly hearing about Kiera's involvement in gathering support.
If you're looking for a brutal, mystical, fast-paced story, I think there are definitely things here to enjoy. For me, I needed deeper character development and more exploration of the world to fully connect with the story.
⭐️⭐️.5
July 5, 2026
This book pushed the gas pedal down and never looked back. From the very start of the book there was action, violence, and non stop bloodshed while still bringing in emotion from the characters. I do wish we could have gotten more of background on the characters however that didn’t stop this from being an amazing story! I think Noah Brisk has a promising career ahead of him if he can keep making stories as great as this one.
July 4, 2026
Woah! What a debut.
From the foul mouthed middle aged alcoholic Brann, to the gorgeous yet strong teenager Seren, to the mesmerising fierceness of Kiera, this debut novel is full of blood, guts and gore, but also heart, love and forgiveness. It is fast paced and action packed and leaves you wanting more.
I cannot wait to delve into book 2.
Congrats Noah, what a bloody great way to start your writing career!
From the foul mouthed middle aged alcoholic Brann, to the gorgeous yet strong teenager Seren, to the mesmerising fierceness of Kiera, this debut novel is full of blood, guts and gore, but also heart, love and forgiveness. It is fast paced and action packed and leaves you wanting more.
I cannot wait to delve into book 2.
Congrats Noah, what a bloody great way to start your writing career!
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
2,5*
Thank you Noah for the ARC read. Unfortunately the book did not work for me and I’m truly sorry for that.
I’m an avid (grim)dark fantasy reader. The story is very bloody and gory and the world a grim place. It is certainly dark, but it did not feel grimdark to me in the sense of ambiguity, futility, hopelessness or heavy losses with huge emotional impact. This was mostly slaughtering nameless strangers. Quite literally so, actually.
It leans into tropes and stereotypes at times, to the point that I saw major reveals coming from miles away. And magic is omnipresent. It’s the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding. It is mentioned on basically every page in some way or another and the language used to describe it is rather repetitive. Even though I was first rather enthusiastic about this magical system which is unlike those I encountered before, it soon became tiring.
Unfortunately the characters did not work for me as well. The main characters are both interesting but I failed to connect with them. Brann’s language feels strange, not like the old, drunken mercenary. His extreme use of the f-word (every sentence?) made him look almost adolescent at times.
The story is very introspective, written in third person limited, it still felt as if we were mostly inside Brann's head with little conversation taking place for large parts of the book and only few side characters. I don’t do very well with this kind of story telling. I prefer more show don’t tell in terms of character work.
And I love humor in books, it is a very important aspect whether I enjoy a book or not but this book offered little in that regard.
I do think this book has its audience. The worldbuilding is more narrow in scope and few characters and accessible language will make it easy for readers who are new to fantasy and don’t want to dive into doorstoppers. Those who enjoy fantasy games with lots of sorcery or wish to read something darker and bloodier without jumping headlong into nihilism, they will probably enjoy it more than I did.
It’s still a solid debut, I hope the second installment will be better. Depending on what you're looking for in a book it’s worth checking out.
Thank you Noah for the ARC read. Unfortunately the book did not work for me and I’m truly sorry for that.
I’m an avid (grim)dark fantasy reader. The story is very bloody and gory and the world a grim place. It is certainly dark, but it did not feel grimdark to me in the sense of ambiguity, futility, hopelessness or heavy losses with huge emotional impact. This was mostly slaughtering nameless strangers. Quite literally so, actually.
It leans into tropes and stereotypes at times, to the point that I saw major reveals coming from miles away. And magic is omnipresent. It’s the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding. It is mentioned on basically every page in some way or another and the language used to describe it is rather repetitive. Even though I was first rather enthusiastic about this magical system which is unlike those I encountered before, it soon became tiring.
Unfortunately the characters did not work for me as well. The main characters are both interesting but I failed to connect with them. Brann’s language feels strange, not like the old, drunken mercenary. His extreme use of the f-word (every sentence?) made him look almost adolescent at times.
The story is very introspective, written in third person limited, it still felt as if we were mostly inside Brann's head with little conversation taking place for large parts of the book and only few side characters. I don’t do very well with this kind of story telling. I prefer more show don’t tell in terms of character work.
And I love humor in books, it is a very important aspect whether I enjoy a book or not but this book offered little in that regard.
I do think this book has its audience. The worldbuilding is more narrow in scope and few characters and accessible language will make it easy for readers who are new to fantasy and don’t want to dive into doorstoppers. Those who enjoy fantasy games with lots of sorcery or wish to read something darker and bloodier without jumping headlong into nihilism, they will probably enjoy it more than I did.
It’s still a solid debut, I hope the second installment will be better. Depending on what you're looking for in a book it’s worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. What a great start to a dark and gritty fantasy world. If you are a fan of Wheel of Time, grimdark fantasies, and the horror elements of Richard Swan's latest books, The Tethered God is the book for you.
The book was fast paced, with beautiful prose, and I liked the shorter length. Even with the shorter length, the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding and character development. Something I appreciated with how the author did not hold back punches. The dark scenes were DARK, gory, and bloody. But there were moments of light and emotion that shined through which helped me root for the main characters.
Brann, the main character, was flawed, damaged, and full of regret when we first meet him. Through the story, not only do we see why he is the way he is, but we see his strength and commitment, mostly because of Seren. I loved Seren. She was strong, independent, but willing to let Brann help her when needed. They found strength with each other.
Something I was not expecting in this book was the horror elements Noah sprinkled in. I found myself (several times) saying WTF. I'm not going to spoil anything but there were two horror parts that stood out to me; one was similar to Johnny Deep's death scene in The Nightmare on Elm Street and the other element was similar to the flesh wall in the upside down in Stranger Things.
Overall, this was a fun and dark read! I can't wait for more people to read Noah's book and I can't wait to read future books by him.
Add this to your TBR.
What to expect:
-Prophecies
-Cults
-Bloody, gory fight scenes
-Flawed characters
-Eldritch body horror
-Unique magic system
The book was fast paced, with beautiful prose, and I liked the shorter length. Even with the shorter length, the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding and character development. Something I appreciated with how the author did not hold back punches. The dark scenes were DARK, gory, and bloody. But there were moments of light and emotion that shined through which helped me root for the main characters.
Brann, the main character, was flawed, damaged, and full of regret when we first meet him. Through the story, not only do we see why he is the way he is, but we see his strength and commitment, mostly because of Seren. I loved Seren. She was strong, independent, but willing to let Brann help her when needed. They found strength with each other.
Something I was not expecting in this book was the horror elements Noah sprinkled in. I found myself (several times) saying WTF. I'm not going to spoil anything but there were two horror parts that stood out to me; one was similar to Johnny Deep's death scene in The Nightmare on Elm Street and the other element was similar to the flesh wall in the upside down in Stranger Things.
Overall, this was a fun and dark read! I can't wait for more people to read Noah's book and I can't wait to read future books by him.
Add this to your TBR.
What to expect:
-Prophecies
-Cults
-Bloody, gory fight scenes
-Flawed characters
-Eldritch body horror
-Unique magic system
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Well written for a debut novel, but it just wasn’t for me. The plot didn’t bring anything new to the genre, the characters were stiff and not very endearing, and the mythology was weighed down by too much verbiage and confusing explanations.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Buckle up. The Tethered God is an ambitious, dark, and extremely fast paced debut that throws you into the deep end almost immediately. Noah Brisk has created a gritty modern fantasy filled with powerful gods, questionable divinity, humans caught in the middle, and plenty of secrets about what is really happening beneath the surface. I was particularly impressed by the strength of the writing itself. The prose is polished and deliberate, the dialogue feels natural, and there is a clear talent for creating vivid, visceral scenes. There were moments when I thought the writing was perhaps a little too eager to flex and show everything it could do, but overall, I found the prose one of the book’s greatest strengths.
I also really enjoyed the combination of darkness and magic here. The Tethered God doesn’t make you choose between grim, violent fantasy and a world filled with flashy, imaginative magic. There is plenty of both, and the action is intense from pretty much the opening scene onward. In fact, the book almost becomes one long escalation of action, which I suspect will be a major selling point for readers who are weary of slow burn fantasy. The characters are compelling and their dialogue works particularly well. My biggest wish was simply that I had been given more time to get to know them. I have a thing for books that actually have meaningful chapter titles instead of simply being numbered, and this book didn’t disappoint. I know it sounds like a small thing, but I love the extra touch. In the same vein, the epigraphs presented as fragments of forbidden historical texts and mysterious notes from the margins were really fun. They added a really interesting sense of a larger history lurking behind the story, and I hope some of those pieces become more significant as the series continues.
My main criticism is also tied to what some might consider to be the book’s greatest strength: there is a tremendous amount of story packed into 360 pages. I wanted this book to be much longer. The pacing is almost the complete opposite of a slow burn, and there were times when major revelations or developments happened so quickly that I found myself wishing for more groundwork, explanation, and character motivation. The ideas themselves were often VERY cool, but some of the twists and plot progressing elements seemed a bit abrupt because I hadn’t been given quite enough setup to fully appreciate them. The worldbuilding, backstory, and plot all felt like they were moving at a pace that could have supported a much larger novel. I would have happily read another 300 or 400 pages of the story if it meant having more time to explore the world and characters.
Overall, I think The Tethered God will be particularly appealing to readers who want their fantasy dark, violent, magical, and fast. This is not a book that spends hundreds of pages slowly setting the stage, rather it throws you straight into the action and keeps moving. Very heavy metal. Despite my pacing related criticisms, I came away from this book very intrigued to follow Noah’s future as an author, and I’ll be excited to continue reading this series. The ending left me wanting more, and I’m genuinely interested to see how the world and its characters develop in the next installment.
I’d also like to thank Noah for the opportunity to read The Tethered God early ahead of its September release and for the advance copy of the audiobook, narrated by Nick Podehl. His performance was fantastic! He does an excellent job bringing the story to life and gives each character a distinct voice, particularly the women. Female characters can sometimes end up sounding unintentionally comical when portrayed by male narrators, but that was absolutely not the case here. The women in The Tethered God are strong, interesting characters, and I thought Podehl did a wonderful job giving them the presence they deserved. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to experience this book in audio. I followed along in my kindle, and the book was well formatted with really high quality artwork. Nice overall reading experience.
I also really enjoyed the combination of darkness and magic here. The Tethered God doesn’t make you choose between grim, violent fantasy and a world filled with flashy, imaginative magic. There is plenty of both, and the action is intense from pretty much the opening scene onward. In fact, the book almost becomes one long escalation of action, which I suspect will be a major selling point for readers who are weary of slow burn fantasy. The characters are compelling and their dialogue works particularly well. My biggest wish was simply that I had been given more time to get to know them. I have a thing for books that actually have meaningful chapter titles instead of simply being numbered, and this book didn’t disappoint. I know it sounds like a small thing, but I love the extra touch. In the same vein, the epigraphs presented as fragments of forbidden historical texts and mysterious notes from the margins were really fun. They added a really interesting sense of a larger history lurking behind the story, and I hope some of those pieces become more significant as the series continues.
My main criticism is also tied to what some might consider to be the book’s greatest strength: there is a tremendous amount of story packed into 360 pages. I wanted this book to be much longer. The pacing is almost the complete opposite of a slow burn, and there were times when major revelations or developments happened so quickly that I found myself wishing for more groundwork, explanation, and character motivation. The ideas themselves were often VERY cool, but some of the twists and plot progressing elements seemed a bit abrupt because I hadn’t been given quite enough setup to fully appreciate them. The worldbuilding, backstory, and plot all felt like they were moving at a pace that could have supported a much larger novel. I would have happily read another 300 or 400 pages of the story if it meant having more time to explore the world and characters.
Overall, I think The Tethered God will be particularly appealing to readers who want their fantasy dark, violent, magical, and fast. This is not a book that spends hundreds of pages slowly setting the stage, rather it throws you straight into the action and keeps moving. Very heavy metal. Despite my pacing related criticisms, I came away from this book very intrigued to follow Noah’s future as an author, and I’ll be excited to continue reading this series. The ending left me wanting more, and I’m genuinely interested to see how the world and its characters develop in the next installment.
I’d also like to thank Noah for the opportunity to read The Tethered God early ahead of its September release and for the advance copy of the audiobook, narrated by Nick Podehl. His performance was fantastic! He does an excellent job bringing the story to life and gives each character a distinct voice, particularly the women. Female characters can sometimes end up sounding unintentionally comical when portrayed by male narrators, but that was absolutely not the case here. The women in The Tethered God are strong, interesting characters, and I thought Podehl did a wonderful job giving them the presence they deserved. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to experience this book in audio. I followed along in my kindle, and the book was well formatted with really high quality artwork. Nice overall reading experience.
September 5, 2026
A VERY solid first book! Brutal, dark fantasy, but never without a thread of goodness and hope. This takes clear inspiration from The Wheel of Time, Brandon Sanderson, Richard Swan, etc. but still remains its own and never feels derivative.
I had a great time with this book! By the end I truly cared about the characters and the story being told. I’m looking forward to book two!
The writing itself felt slightly inconsistent. There were times where I was completely pulled in to what was happening, and it felt no different than reading any successful big name trad published book. Then other times some of the descriptions and dialogue reminded me that this is an indie author’s debut. This is the primary reason for knocking off a star, but honestly that kind of stuff isn’t a huge deal to me. If I’m connected to the world, the plot, and the characters, then I’m going to enjoy the book no matter what.
Overall this is a definite recommendation from me!
I had a great time with this book! By the end I truly cared about the characters and the story being told. I’m looking forward to book two!
The writing itself felt slightly inconsistent. There were times where I was completely pulled in to what was happening, and it felt no different than reading any successful big name trad published book. Then other times some of the descriptions and dialogue reminded me that this is an indie author’s debut. This is the primary reason for knocking off a star, but honestly that kind of stuff isn’t a huge deal to me. If I’m connected to the world, the plot, and the characters, then I’m going to enjoy the book no matter what.
Overall this is a definite recommendation from me!
June 22, 2026
Fucking Lyssia’s tits” this was GOOD. 😂
Thanks to author Noah Brisk for allowing me to read his ARC.
This book wastes absolutely no time the first chapter basically grabbed me by the collar and said, you live here now. I finished this in two days. Absolute page turner.
You follow Brann as he tries (and fails spectacularly) to outrun his past. Forget his mistakes. Forget what he’s done. But fate looked at all that and said, that’s cute.
Things in the land of Ashkareth are corrupted, and Brann may be the key to fixing it all. No pressure.
I loved the gore, the blood, the magic system, the runes, and especially the memory sequences they were written in such a cool way and made everything hit harder emotionally. This felt like classic epic high fantasy without requiring a dictionary and three cups of coffee to understand what was happening 😂 Fast paced, brutal, but still packed with heart.
And Seren Serenity Vale?? Absolute queen. Nothing improves a fantasy journey like a tough woman showing up and bringing energy to every scene she’s in. She added so much to the story and balanced Brann’s journey perfectly.
Noah definitely knows how to twist the knife emotionally too there were moments that actually got me. And Brann’s story wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying and earned.
Overall: dark, bloody, emotional, and impossible to put down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars and several emotional support runes later… I survived.
Thanks to author Noah Brisk for allowing me to read his ARC.
This book wastes absolutely no time the first chapter basically grabbed me by the collar and said, you live here now. I finished this in two days. Absolute page turner.
You follow Brann as he tries (and fails spectacularly) to outrun his past. Forget his mistakes. Forget what he’s done. But fate looked at all that and said, that’s cute.
Things in the land of Ashkareth are corrupted, and Brann may be the key to fixing it all. No pressure.
I loved the gore, the blood, the magic system, the runes, and especially the memory sequences they were written in such a cool way and made everything hit harder emotionally. This felt like classic epic high fantasy without requiring a dictionary and three cups of coffee to understand what was happening 😂 Fast paced, brutal, but still packed with heart.
And Seren Serenity Vale?? Absolute queen. Nothing improves a fantasy journey like a tough woman showing up and bringing energy to every scene she’s in. She added so much to the story and balanced Brann’s journey perfectly.
Noah definitely knows how to twist the knife emotionally too there were moments that actually got me. And Brann’s story wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying and earned.
Overall: dark, bloody, emotional, and impossible to put down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars and several emotional support runes later… I survived.
Read
March 20, 2026Beta reader, so not rating, but I will say this was fun if you like your magic systems dark and squelchy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A grimdark fantasy with an older damaged protagonist, questionable gods, rotting magic, complicated loyalties, and a relationship that slowly becomes the emotional anchor of the story. Obviously, I was going to be invested! TTG feels like it was written by someone who genuinely loves epic fantasy but also understands that the most interesting battles are usually the ones happening inside of the characters. I loved Brann as a protagonist. He has spent years trying to disappear into a bottle, only to be dragged back into a world of dying gods, corrupted magic, and a past that refuses to stay buried. Then there’s Seren, a young priestess driven by faith and prophecy, who becomes the perfect counterbalance to Brann’s bitterness. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. She refuses to let him abandon the world, or himself, while he forces her to examine the difference between genuine faith and blind obedience. These two give the story emotional weight beneath all the blood, divine horror, and collapsing magic.
Divine horror! Let’s talk about that. The story takes place in Ashkareth, a world shaped and controlled by a group of gods known as the Six. These gods are treated as humanity’s protectors, but their divine order is built upon sacrifice, obedience, blood, and enforced silence. One of the book’s central questions seems to be whether the gods truly saved the world or merely constructed a system that keeps them powerful. Long before the story begins, the Six defeated and imprisoned another divine being, known as the Tethered God. Now that prison is failing. If the Tethered God escapes, it could mean the end of the world, but the book also raises the possibility that the official story about this imprisoned god may not be entirely true. Brann was once closely connected to the religious power structure serving the Six. He also possessed some kind of magic that required him to carry out terrible acts in the gods’ names. Exactly what Brann did is one of the book’s central mysteries, but it left him drowning in guilt. And now he is being dragged back into and this Tethered God is calling out to him directly.
The book definitely delivers some twists! It is also extremely well written. The way Noah Brisk chose to state some things had me stopping and going over it again because it was such a good way to say something. I love it when that happens. The world and religious structure is super intriguing, and the mystery of the truth drives the story forward and keeps readers invested. It is grimdark in its violence, moral ambiguity, broken institutions, and distrust of divine authority, but it is not nihilistic. I honestly really enjoyed it! And I think it’ll land with many readers.
Available 9/22/26! Thanks to the author for early access!
Divine horror! Let’s talk about that. The story takes place in Ashkareth, a world shaped and controlled by a group of gods known as the Six. These gods are treated as humanity’s protectors, but their divine order is built upon sacrifice, obedience, blood, and enforced silence. One of the book’s central questions seems to be whether the gods truly saved the world or merely constructed a system that keeps them powerful. Long before the story begins, the Six defeated and imprisoned another divine being, known as the Tethered God. Now that prison is failing. If the Tethered God escapes, it could mean the end of the world, but the book also raises the possibility that the official story about this imprisoned god may not be entirely true. Brann was once closely connected to the religious power structure serving the Six. He also possessed some kind of magic that required him to carry out terrible acts in the gods’ names. Exactly what Brann did is one of the book’s central mysteries, but it left him drowning in guilt. And now he is being dragged back into and this Tethered God is calling out to him directly.
The book definitely delivers some twists! It is also extremely well written. The way Noah Brisk chose to state some things had me stopping and going over it again because it was such a good way to say something. I love it when that happens. The world and religious structure is super intriguing, and the mystery of the truth drives the story forward and keeps readers invested. It is grimdark in its violence, moral ambiguity, broken institutions, and distrust of divine authority, but it is not nihilistic. I honestly really enjoyed it! And I think it’ll land with many readers.
Available 9/22/26! Thanks to the author for early access!
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